Ordnance.



A. S. HALSEY.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

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A. s.' HALSEY.

ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22. i918.

1,295,740. Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. s.. HALSEY.

ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION Fl ED .22. i 8- 1,295,740. Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onruon;

ARTHUR- SHERMAN HALSEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

ORDNANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. HALsnY,

- a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gun mounts of the so-called disappearing type in which the gun and mount may be withdrawn or lowered into a compartment or well in the deck of a vessel. This type of mount is particularly adapted for use on the submarine vessels as, for obvious reasons, it is often desirous that the guns do not appear above the deck while the vessel is on the surface of the water, and that the guns be below the deck when the vessel is submerged.

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a gun mount of the disappearing type, which is relatively simple in construction and which is reliable and efiicient in operation in that it may be quickly, smoothly and correctly lowered into and raised out of a chamber of a ship. To insure that the gun and mount, while being lowered, are in correct positions, my improved mount is provided with means whereby, before the mount can be lowered, it is necessary to bring the mount into the correct azimuth,

, that is with the gun in longitudinal alinement with the chamber into which it is to be lowered, and to move the gun to the correct elevation. With my improved arrangement, accidents and resultant damage to the mount or ship, due to the gun striking the I vessel when the mount is lowered, cannot occur as the operators cannot lower the gun until it is brought into the correct position.

Aflfurther object of my invention is to provide a mount which is automatically low ered when thegun and mount are brought into a predetermined position.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts which are described more in detail in the following specification and illustrated in the drawings, but it is to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of illustration only and my invention is not restricted thereto, it being susceptible to various modifications and changes which are within the spirit of my conception Without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a side elevation view of my improved mount in raised position.

Fig. 2, is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3, is a side elevational view showing the mount in lowered position, parts of the structure being broken away for purpose of clearness.

Fig. 4, is a rear view of the mount with the latter in raised position.

Fig. 5, is an enlarged detailperspeetive view of the mount releasing mechanism, and

Fig. 6, is a detail sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4 with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts in the several views, 10 designate a well or chamber in the deck of a ship. Located within and at the rear end of this chamber 10 is a mount supporting frame 12, which may be of any suitable construction and which is open at its forward end so as to receive a stand 13. The stand 13 is pivoted at its rear end on a shaft 14 extending transversely of the opening in the frame 12 so as to swing forwardly and downwardly when the mount is lowered. Arising from the pivoted stand 13 is an annulus 15 upon which the carriage 16 is mounted. The yoke 17 of the carriage 16 has, at its upper end the usual bearings which receive the trunnions 18 of the slide 19 in which a gun 20 is adapted to recoil in the line of fire. The gun is connected to the slide 19 by the recoil mechanism 21 which may be of any suitable or approved construction. Between the carmage 16 and the annulus 15 are the bearings 0 enings 34 in vided with theusual training and pointing or elevating mechanisms, which are not shown in detail in the drawings as the construction thereof will be understood by those familiar .with the art. The training mechanism and elevating mechanisms are provided with the usual two-hand wheels 24 and 25 respectively, and these wheels are operated by members of the gun crew, who stand upon the platforms 26. The platforms 26 are removably carried by brackets 27 secured to the carriage 16 so that they may be removed when it is desired to lower the mount into the'well.

The gun slide 19 forms a housing for the breech end of the gun 20 and recoil mechanism21- Extending downwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the slide 19 is a trip '28 which is bifurcated to form two fingers and this trip cooperates with the mount releasing mechanism hereinafter described. The yoke of the carriage l6 and the gun and slide 19 are so constructed and arranged that when the mount is to be lowered, the gun may be brought into a vertical position with the slide 19 fitting between the checks of the yoke, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The means for locking the mount in elevated or raised position comprises, in part, plungers 29 slidably mounted in tubular guideways 30 located at opposite sides and adjacent the forward end of the stand 13.

,These plungers are adapted to be moved in opposite directions outwardly of the stand when locking the mount in raised position and engage in recesses 31 in the sides of the frame 12 as most clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Rotatably mounted on the forward end of the stand 13 at the point midway be tween the plungers 29 is a pivoted crank 32 of cruciform shape, and connecting the plungers 29 to diametrically disposed arms of this crank are links 33.

The stand 13 has at its forward end a pair of vertical 0 enings 34 which in the present illustrative isclosure, are shown as extending through the large gear 35 fixed to the. stand and forming a portion of the training mechanism. The carriage 16 has a pair of vertical openings 36, which register with the openin s 34 when the mount is in the correct azimuth to be lowered, that is when the gun 20 is in longitudinal alinement with the chamber 10. Adapted to reciprocate in the gear 35 is a pair of rods connected at their lower ends to the horiaontally extending arms of the crank 32.

These rods 37 are of such length that when the mountis in elevated and locked position, that is when the plungers 29 have been forced outwardly into the recesses 31, the upper ends of the rods 37 are substantially .flush with the upper surface of the gear 35.

Between the checks of the yoke 17 and in position to be engaged by the trip 28 when the gun is in the elevated position shown in Fig. 1, is. an L-shape lever 38 plvoted on a rod 39. The rod 39 extends through the horizontal arm of the lever 38, and connected tothe opposite ends of this arm are rods 40 which at their ends engage in the openings 36 of the carriage. The rods 40 are jointed, as at 41, to allow for movement of the lever 38 and these rods are of such length that when the mount is in raised and locked position the lower ends of the same do not extend below the lower ends of the openings 36. It will be seen that the carriage 16 may be rotated on the stand 13 without being interfered with by the rods 37 and 40. The upwardly extending arm of the lever 38 carries a pin 42 which engages between the fingers of the trip 28 when the gun is brought into vertical position relative to the mount.

In the present illustrative disclosure, I have shown the means for raising and lowering the mount as comprising cylinders 43 which may be of any suitable construction. They are shown as comprising two telescoping parts and between the parts a packing may be provided to render the cylinders air tight. Leading from a suitable pressure pump (not shown) to the cylinders are tubes 44 whereby the air pressure within the cylinders may be regulated and, if desired, coiled springs under compression may be located within the cylinders for normally urgrearwardly of the stand 13. The frame 12 V has partitions 45 in which are pivoted the trunnions of internally threaded rings 46. A part of each cylinder is externally threaded so as to be screwed into these rings. The forward end of each cylinder is pivoted to the stand 13 at a point forwardly and downwardly of the shaft 14 upon which the stand is pivoted. In the present instance, the forward ends of the cylinders have trunnions 47 which are mounted in bearings provided in the webs 48 which depend from the body portion of the stand 13. It will be seen that the length of the cylinders may be easily varied by rotating the cylinders within the rings 46. When air pressure is admitted to the cylinders the same will be extended thereby forcing the mount to swing upwardly about its pivot 14, and during this movement the forward ends of the cylinders will move on the line of a are.

The operation of my improved mount will be clear from the foregoing description. Assuming that the mount is in elevated position, as shown. in full lines of Fig. 1, and it is desired to lower the mount into the chamber or well 10 of the ship, the carria e 16 is rotated upon the stand 13 to bring ilie gun 1nto longitudinal alinement with the well "an r a and in this positioirthe rods 37 and 40 are in alinement. The elevating mechanism 25 is operated to bring the un 20 into a vertical position, as shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1. As the breech end of the gun approaches the position shown in dotted lines in this figure, the trip 28 is brought into engagement with pin 42 on the lever 38 of the mount releasing mechanism. The pin 42 will engage between the fingers of the trip 28 and the cam surface 49 of the rear finger which enga es the pin 4L2, will force the lever 38 from the full line position into the dotted'line position shown in Fig. 1. 'When will be forced downwardly into engagement the lever 38 is so rotated, one of the rods 40 with the upper end of that rod 37 which upon depression will cause the crank 32 to rotate in such direction as to withdraw the plungers 29 from the recesses 31 in the frame 12. Thereupon, the stand 13 together with the-carriage 15 will swing forwardly and downwardly about the pivotal shaft 14, it being understood that the pressure within the cylinders 43 is gradually reduced so as to lower the mountwvith a smooth and even movement. When it is desired to raise the .;mount from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in full line in Fig. 1, air pressure is admitted to the cylinders 43, whereupon, the cylinders are extended and the stand will swing upwardly about the shaft 14. After the stand is in elevated position, the gun 20 may be swung down into horizontal position, whereupon the surface 50 of the forward finger of the trip 28 will engage the pin 42 of the lever 38. The lever 38 is rotated and this movement is communicated by means of rods 40 and 37 to the crank lever 32 which will be rotated in a direction to move the plungers 29 outwardly into the recesses 31. It is understood that, when the mount and gun are in the position shown in Fig.- '1, the rods 37 and 40 do not extend beyond their respective openings 34 and 36, in which they reciprocate so that the gun may be trained.

I claim:

1. A pivoted gun mount, means for looking the same in elevated position, and means for releasing said locking means, andmeans controlled by the position of the gun for rendering said releasing means incapable of actuation until the gun is in a predetermined position.

2. A pivoted gun mount, means for lock- .ing the same in elevated position, and means for releasing said locking means, and means controlled by the position of the gun for rendering said releasing means incapable of actuation until the gun is in the correct azimuth.

8. A pivoted gun mount, means for looking the same in elevated position, and means for releasing said locking means, and means controlled by the position of the gun for rendering said releasing means incapable of actuation until the gun is in the correct azimuth and elevation.

4;. A pivoted gun mount, means for locking the same in elevated position, means for releasing said locking means, means assoclated with the gun for rendering said releasing means ineapable of actuation until the gun is in the correct azimuth, andineans controlled by and associated with the gun for actuating the releasing means when the gun is moved into raised position.

5. A gun mount having a pivoted base and a carriage rotatably mounted on the base, means for locking said base in ele vated position, and means actuated by the gun for releasing said locking means, a portion of said releasing means being carried by the carriage and the other portion by said base, and said portions cooperating with each other when the carriage is in a predetermined position.

6. A gun mount having a pivoted base and a carriage rotatably mounted on the base, means for locking said base in elevated position, and means actuated by the gun for releasing said locking means, said releasing means comprising in part a pair of rods carried by said base and a pair of rods carried by the carriage, said pairs of rods being in cooperative relation when the carriage is in the correct azimuth.

7. A frame, a gun mount having a base pivoted in the frame and a carriage rotatably carried by the base, a slidable plunger for locking the mount in elevated position, a rod associated with the plunger and slidably mounted in an opening in the base, a rod slidably mounted in an opening in the carriage and in cooperative relation with said first mentioned red when the carriage is in the correct azimuth, a lever associated with said second mentioned rod, and means for rocking the lever when the gun is brought into or moved from a vertical or elevated position.

8. A frame, a gun mount having a base pivoted in the frame and a carriage rotatably mounted on the base, a gun slide on the carriage, a pair of slidable plungers carried by the base and adapted to be moved outwardly into recesses in the frame, acrank to which said plungers are connected. a pair of rods connected to the crank and slidably mounted in openings in said base, a pair of rods carried by the carriage and adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned rods when the carriage is in the correct azimuth, a. lever carried by the carriage and to which said last mentioned rods are connected, and a trip carried by the gun slide and adapted to rock said lever when the gun is moved into a vertical 01' elevated position.

9. In combination, a frame,

a stand pivoted in said frame,

a gun carriage on said stand, a two part cylinder pivotally connected to said frame and stand, the length of said cylinder being adjustable, and means for regulating the pressure in said cylinder.

10. In combination, a frame, a stand pivoted in said frame, a gun carriage on said stand, an externally threaded ring journaled in said frame, a two-part cylinder, one part of which is adjustably screwed in said ring and the other part being directly connected 10 bia, this 14th day of October, 1918.

ARTHUR SHERMAN HALSEY.

for regulating the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

